Gavin McKenna becomes second Indigenous player selected No. 1 in NHL draft
Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Nation standout was selected first overall by the Toronto Maple Leafs
Gavin McKenna, a citizen of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Nation, became the second Indigenous player selected first overall in the National Hockey League draft when the Toronto Maple Leafs chose him with the No. 1 pick in Buffalo, New York. According to reporting from ICT, McKenna wore a beaded pin created by his sister that honored orange shirt day and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women while his family wore traditional Native clothing to represent their community during the draft.
Before the draft, McKenna told ESPN the pin featured "two wolves," with orange representing “every child matters” and red honoring "the women who were lost." According to reporting from ICT, members of the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in Nation gathered for a community watch party to celebrate the selection. Deputy Chief Erin McQuaig said the First Nation is proud of McKenna and expressed confidence he will continue to uphold the Nation's values as he begins his NHL career.
- 1.Miles Morrisseau. ICT, .
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